Cutting board and strainer storage apparatus for use with a sink

ABSTRACT

An equipment storage apparatus permits kitchen equipment to be enclosed in a stored position proximate the sink or an exposed position above the sink&#39;s bowl. The equipment storage apparatus includes a compartment coupled to an opening in the countertop proximate a side of the bowl, a support block slidably mounted to an interior of the compartment, and a frame pivotably mounted to the support block and designed to secure a kitchen equipment member therein. The frame is stored within the compartment to enclose the kitchen equipment member in the storage position. The support block is slidably adjusted within the compartment to permit the frame to pass through the opening in the countertop and pivotably adjust to position the kitchen equipment member above the bowl of the sink in the exposed position.

RELATED APPLICATION

The application claims priority to provisional patent application U.S.Ser. No. 62/077,643 filed on Nov. 10, 2014, the entire contents of whichis herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The embodiments herein relate generally to storage devices for cookingequipment such as cutting boards and strainers.

Kitchen equipment for cooking such as cutting boards and strainers areoften used near a sink. This setup allows users to chop food items suchas vegetables and easily dispose the remaining scraps into a garbagedisposal device within the sink's drain. Using a strainer next to acutting board allows users to easily transfer vegetables washed in thesink to the cutting board.

One problem faced by individuals using cutting boards, strainers andother accessories is that these items take up significant space oncounters, drawers or cabinets when not in use. When left on the counter,these items promote clutter in the kitchen area. It is a burden forindividuals to retrieve these items from drawers or cabinets becausethey may be located far away from the sink or the items may bemisplaced.

Several cutting board or strainer mounting devices for securing theseitems to a sink exist as disclosed in U.S. Patent ApplicationPublications 2005/0110203 and 2013/0312176, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,041,964and 6,341,770. However, these devices do not allow the user to store thecutting board or strainer away from the sink when not in use. Inparticular, these devices do not permit the cutting board or strainer tobe stored out of sight nearby the sink for an easy retrieval at a latertime.

As such, there is a need in the industry for a cutting board andstrainer storage apparatus that is used with a sink, which addresses thelimitations of the prior art.

SUMMARY

An equipment storage apparatus configured for use with a sink isprovided. The sink comprises a countertop coupled to at least one bowl.The storage apparatus is configured to permit kitchen equipment to beenclosed in a stored position proximate the sink or an exposed positionabove the bowl of the sink. The equipment storage apparatus comprises acompartment comprising a top opening, side walls and a bottom wallopposite the top opening, the compartment coupled to an opening in thecountertop proximate a side of the bowl, a support block slidablymounted to an interior of the compartment, and a frame pivotably mountedto the support block and configured to secure a kitchen equipment membertherein, wherein the frame is configured to be stored within thecompartment to enclose the kitchen equipment member in the storageposition, wherein the support block is configured to slidably adjustalong a longitudinal axis of the compartment to permit the frame to passthrough the opening in the countertop and pivotably adjust to positionthe kitchen equipment member above the bowl of the sink in the exposedposition.

In alternative embodiments, the equipment storage apparatus comprises apair of compartments coupled to a pair of openings in the countertopproximate the bowl, each compartment comprising a support block slidablymounted to an interior of the compartment, and a pair of frames operablyconnected to the pair of compartments, each frame pivotably mounted toone of the support blocks and configured to secure a kitchen equipmentmember therein, wherein each frame is configured to be stored within oneof the compartments to enclose the kitchen equipment member in thestorage position, wherein each support block is configured to slidablyadjust within one of the compartments to permit the frame to extendabove the countertop and pivotably adjust to position the kitchenequipment member above the bowl of the sink in the exposed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention will bemade below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein thefigures disclose one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of certain embodiments of the storageapparatus;

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of certain embodiments of the storageapparatus taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of certain embodiments of the storageapparatus depicting lid 14 in the open position;

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of certain embodiments of the storageapparatus depicting the cutting board and strainer in extendedorientations;

FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of certain embodiments of the storageapparatus depicting the cutting board and strainer in functionalorientations;

FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of certain embodiments of the storageapparatus taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 depicts a cross-sectional view of certain embodiments of thestorage apparatus taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 depicts a cross-sectional view of certain embodiments of thestorage apparatus taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 depicts a cross-sectional view of certain embodiments of thestorage apparatus taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 depicts an exploded perspective view of certain embodiments ofthe storage apparatus;

FIG. 11 depicts a perspective view of certain embodiments of the storageapparatus depicting the cutting board in a stored position;

FIG. 12 depicts a perspective view of certain embodiments of the storageapparatus depicting the cutting board in an extended orientation; and

FIG. 13 depicts a cross-sectional view of certain embodiments of thestorage apparatus taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

As depicted in FIG. 1, the storage apparatus is configured for use withsink unit 11 and comprises cutting board 10 a, strainer 10 b, storagecompartments 12 and hinged lids 14. Each hinged lid 14 is pivotablymounted to sink unit 11 and is configured to remain closed to storecutting board 10 a or strainer 10 b as depicted in FIG. 2 or open asdepicted in FIG. 3. In a preferred embodiment, sink unit 11 comprises agooseneck-type faucet to enhance sink space and functionality. Althoughthe figures depict sink unit 11 as having two bowls, it shall beappreciated that a single bowl or an alternative number of bowls may beused instead.

As depicted in FIG. 4, cutting board 10 a and strainer 10 b can beextended out of storage compartments 12 to expose frames 18, handles 20and hinge portions 22. Cutting board member 16 comprises slotted handle21 and is inserted within frame 18 to the left of sink unit 11. Strainermember 24 is inserted within frame 18 to the right of sink unit 11. Itshall be appreciated that cutting board member 16 and strainer member 24can be assembled on either side of sink unit 11. As depicted in FIG. 5,cutting board member 16 and strainer member 24 are pivotably adjustedvia hinge portions 22 to rest on top of sink unit 11. As depicted inFIG. 6, adjustable latch 23 is affixed to frame 18 of cutting boardmember 16. Adjustable latch 23 helps to secure cutting board member 16in place. In this configuration, a user can easily transfer washed foodssuch as fruits and vegetables from strainer member 24 to cutting boardmember 16, and to dispose chopped scrap items into sink unit 11 to bedisposed by a garbage disposal unit (not shown).

FIGS. 7-9 depict the components of the storage apparatus in more detail.It shall be appreciated that the components used to secure cutting boardmember 16 and strainer member 24 are the same. For illustrativepurposes, attention is focused on cutting board member 16. Cutting boardmember 16 is pivotably mounted to sliding roller block 26 via hingeportion 22. Rollers 27 are operably connected to sliding roller block 26by hinge pins 29. This allows sliding roller block 26 to slidably adjustalong channels 30 of storage compartment 12. It shall be appreciatedthat each storage compartment 12 may have a pair of channels 30 thatengages with corresponding rollers 27 on sliding roller block 26.

Each sliding roller block 26 comprises stop 28, which is a lipconfigured to contact countertop 11 a of sink unit 11. This contactprevents cutting board member 16 and frame 18 from detaching fromstorage compartment 12. As depicted in FIG. 9, a portion of frames 18rest on countertop 11 a when cutting board member 16 and strainer member24 are placed on top of sink unit 11. As depicted in FIG. 10, cuttingboard member 16 and strainer member 24 can both be easily removed fromthe storage apparatus for cleaning. Once completed, cutting board member16 and strainer member 24 can be easily reassembled. Cutting boardmember 16 and strainer member 24 may be detachably coupled to frames 18by snap-fit components or alternative mechanical fasteners.

As depicted in FIG. 11, in an embodiment of the invention, the storageapparatus comprises shock absorbing support springs 34 configured tocontact sliding roller block 26 in the storage configuration. In thisstorage configuration, a user can push down on handle 20 to compressshock absorbing support springs 34. Once handle 20 is released, shockabsorbing support springs 34 decompress and expose handle 20 abovecompartment 12. This enables the user to easily pull handle 20 upward toan extended configuration as depicted in FIG. 12. The user can thenpivotably adjust cutting board member 16 on top of sink unit 11 viahinge elements 32 of frame 18. FIG. 13 depicts a cross-sectional view ofcertain embodiments of the storage apparatus.

In operation, cutting board member 16 and strainer member 24 are placedwithin frames 18. Cutting board member 16 and strainer member 24 retractwithin storage compartments 12 when not in use. To use the items,cutting board member 16 and strainer member 24 are slidably adjusted outof storage compartments 12 as depicted in FIG. 4. Cutting board member16 and strainer member 24 are pivotably adjusted on top of sink unit 11as depicted in FIG. 5. This enables a user to easily transfer washedfoods such as fruits and vegetables from strainer member 24 to cuttingboard member 16, and to dispose chopped scrap items into sink unit 11 tobe disposed by a garbage disposal unit (not shown). Cutting board member16 and strainer member 24 can be adjusted to retract back within storagecompartments 12.

In an alternative embodiment, hinged lids 14 are removed from sink unit11. In this configuration, the top portions of frames 18 remain flushwith the top of countertop 11 a in the stored positions. A rubber seal(not shown) may be disposed between the top portions of frames 18 andstorage compartments 12 to prevent foreign objects such as dirt, water,or the like, from falling into the compartments.

It shall be appreciated that the components of the storage apparatusdescribed in several embodiments herein may comprise any known materialsin the field and be of any color, size and/or dimensions. It shall beappreciated that the components of the storage apparatus describedherein may be manufactured and assembled using any known techniques inthe field.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous designconfigurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of theinventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations andarrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of theinvention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather thannarrowed by the embodiments described above.

What is claimed is:
 1. An equipment storage apparatus configured for usewith a sink, the sink comprising a countertop coupled to at least onebowl, the storage apparatus configured to permit kitchen equipment to beenclosed in a stored position proximate the sink or an exposed positionabove the bowl of the sink, the equipment storage apparatus comprising:a compartment comprising a top opening, side walls and a bottom wallopposite the top opening, the compartment coupled to an opening in thecountertop proximate a side of the bowl; a support block slidablymounted to an interior of the compartment; and a frame pivotably mountedto the support block and configured to secure a kitchen equipment membertherein, wherein the frame is configured to be stored within thecompartment to enclose the kitchen equipment member in the storageposition, wherein the support block is configured to slidably adjustalong a longitudinal axis of the compartment to permit the frame to passthrough the opening in the countertop and pivotably adjust to positionthe kitchen equipment member above the bowl of the sink in the exposedposition.
 2. The equipment storage apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a roller member coupled to the support block, wherein theroller member is configured to engage with a channel disposed along theinterior of the compartment, thereby permitting the support block toslidably adjust within the compartment.
 3. The equipment storageapparatus of claim 2, wherein the support block comprises a lipconfigured to contact the countertop to prevent the frame from detachingfrom the compartment.
 4. The equipment storage apparatus of claim 3,further comprising a handle coupled to the frame.
 5. The equipmentstorage apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a spring assemblydisposed within the compartment and comprising a first spring and asecond spring, wherein the support block compresses the first and secondsprings in the storage position, wherein the first and second springsdecompress when the kitchen equipment member is in the exposed position.6. The equipment storage apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a lidpivotably mounted to the countertop opening.
 7. An equipment storageapparatus configured for use with a sink, the sink comprising acountertop coupled to at least one bowl, the storage apparatusconfigured to permit kitchen equipment to be enclosed in a storedposition proximate the sink or an exposed position above the bowl of thesink, the equipment storage apparatus comprising: a pair of compartmentscoupled to a pair of openings in the countertop proximate the bowl, eachcompartment comprising a top opening, side walls and a bottom wallopposite the top opening, each compartment comprising a support blockslidably mounted to an interior of the compartment; and a pair of framesoperably connected to the pair of compartments, each frame pivotablymounted to one of the support blocks and configured to secure a kitchenequipment member therein, wherein each frame is configured to be storedwithin one of the compartments to enclose the kitchen equipment memberin the storage position, wherein each support block is configured toslidably adjust within one of the compartments to permit the frame toextend above the countertop and pivotably adjust to position the kitchenequipment member above the bowl of the sink in the exposed position. 8.The equipment storage apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a rollermember coupled to each support block, wherein the roller member isconfigured to engage with a channel disposed along the interior of thecompartment, thereby permitting the support block to slidably adjustwithin the compartment.
 9. The equipment storage apparatus of claim 8,wherein each support block comprises a lip configured to contact thecountertop to prevent the frame from detaching from the compartment. 10.The equipment storage apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a springassembly disposed within each compartment and comprising a first springand a second spring, wherein the support block compresses the first andsecond springs in the storage position, wherein the first and secondsprings decompress when the kitchen equipment member is in the exposedposition.